Low-maintenance fence

ABSTRACT

A durable, low-maintenance and easy to install fence incorporating a combination of materials that includes at least two posts, a casement structure maintained between the two posts, a lattice structure supported within the casement structure, and a shield structure supported within the casement structure. The posts and casement structure are made of weather treated wood and the lattice and shield structures are made of a synthetic material such as vinyl. Both the lattice and shield structures are supported within the casement structure by a plurality of wood supports.

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication Serial No. 60/215,167 filed Jun. 29, 2000, AttorneyReference No. STUS-1-1001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to the design and constructionof a low-maintenance fence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Fence design has evolved over the years to include a wide varietyof types of fences, ranging from basic stonewalls to chain-link fencesto wood fences to synthetic fences. Each type of material used for fenceconstruction, as well as the particular method of construction, offersunique advantages and disadvantages. Stonewalls offer durability anddepth, but are difficult labor intensive to create, difficult tomaintain at a height, and lack the aesthetically pleasing appearance ofother types of fences. Chain-link fences are durable and relatively easyto install, but lack privacy protection. Wood fences offer variableheight and privacy and are relatively easy to install, but require highmaintenance, including constant wood restoration and painting orrestaining approximately every two to four years. Synthetic fences, suchas those made out of plastics, ceramic, or other material, offer varyingdegrees of durability and distinct aesthetic appearance, but are oftendifficult to install and expensive.

[0004] Thus, there is a need for a low-maintenance fence thatincorporates privacy and ease of installation advantages associated withwood fences with durability and low-maintenance advantages of syntheticfences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to the design and construction of afence incorporating a combination of materials in a manner to produce afence that is durable, easy to install, and requires minimalmaintenance. The fence of the present invention includes at least twoposts, a casement structure maintained between the two posts, a latticestructure supported within the casement structure, and a shieldstructure supported within the casement structure.

[0006] In an alternative embodiment, the posts and casement structureare made of weather treated wood and the lattice and shield structuresare made of a synthetic material such as vinyl.

[0007] In an alternative embodiment, both the lattice and shieldstructures are supported within the casement structure by a plurality ofwood supports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the presentinvention are described in detail below with reference to the followingdrawings.

[0009]FIG. 1 is a view of a low-maintenance fence in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a photographic perspective view of the back side of thelow-maintenance fence of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a photographic perspective view of the front side of thelow-maintenance fence showing post caps.

[0012] FIGS. 4-5 are photographic perspective views of the front side ofthe low-maintenance fence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides adurable, low-maintenance fence that is easy to install and providesprivacy protection. The present invention offers significant advantagesin the design, construction and maintenance of fences.

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a section of a fence 10 according to the presentinvention. In the preferred embodiment, fence section 10 comprises twoposts 20 supported in a vertical position in ground 70 by cementfoundations 22. Posts 20 are preferably 4″×4″ wood cedar beams made of50 year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. The top of posts 20 are cappedby post caps 60, preferably made of anodized aluminum. The structure offence section 10 is supported between posts 20 by a number of supportmembers, specifically top horizontal support 24, middle horizontalsupport 26, bottom horizontal support 28, and vertical end supports 30.Each of these supports is preferably 2″×4″ wood cedar boards made of 50year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. Supports 24, 26, 28 and 30 areconnected to and maintained in placed relative to posts 20 by connectionmeans, preferably nails or screws (not shown).

[0015] Fence section 10 further comprises a lattice section 40 and ashield section 50. Lattice section 40 comprises a lattice network 42,preferably made of durable, low-maintenance vinyl, supported within thelattice section between top horizontal support 24, middle horizontalsupport 26, and vertical end supports 30 by stops 44, located on eitherside of lattice network 42. Stops 44 are preferably 1″×1″ cedar boardsmade of 50 year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. Lattice network 42 isheld in place and supported within stops 44 on either side by connectionmeans, preferably nails or screws (not shown). Stops 44 are held inplace along top horizontal support 24, middle horizontal support 26, andvertical end supports 30 preferably by similar connection means.

[0016] Shield section 50 is supported on the top and bottom by middlehorizontal support 26 and bottom horizontal support 28, respectively. Inaddition, shield section 50 comprises inner vertical end supports 52,vertical center support 54, and center horizontal shield supports 56.These supports are preferably 2″×2″ cedar boards made of 50 yearguaranteed treated outdoor wood. These supports are held in place andmaintained relative to middle horizontal support 26 and bottomhorizontal support 28 by connection means, preferably nails or screws(not shown). Shield section 50 further includes vertical siding 58,preferably made of durable, low-maintenance vinyl, supported within theshield section between middle horizontal support 26, bottom horizontalsupport 28, and vertical end supports 52 by “J” channels 60 affixed totop inner shield supports 62 and bottom inner shield supports 64. Topand bottom inner shield supports 62 and 64 are preferably 1″×1″ cedarboards made of 50 year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. Vertical siding58 is held in place and supported within the shield section byconnection to top inner shield supports 62 and bottom inner shieldsupports 64 via “J” channels 60 using a connection means, preferablynails or screws (not shown). Top and bottom inner shield supports 62 and64 are held in place along middle horizontal support 26 and bottomhorizontal support 28, respectively, preferably by similar connectionmeans.

[0017] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, Construction of fence section 10 ispreferably accomplished as follows. Support members 24, 26, and 28 areconnected to vertical end supports 30, preferably by means of screws, toform a casement. Vertical end supports 52, vertical center support 54,and center horizontal shield supports 56 are connected to vertical endsupports 30, between support members 26 and 28, and between vertical endsupports 52 and vertical center support 54, respectively. Top and bottominner shield supports 62 and 64 are connected to middle horizontalsupport 26 and bottom horizontal support 28, respectively, preferably byscrews. “J” channels 60 are installed by affixing them to the top andbottom inner shield supports by similar connection means. “J” channelsshould be installed with mittered corners to add durability, improveappearance, and to minimize water leakage. Vertical siding is preferablyscrewed in to the top and bottom inner shield supports via “J” channels.Preferably a sealant, such as clear silicone caulking, is applied aroundthe outside perimeter of the “J” channels. Lattice section 40 isconstructed by placing lattice network 42 between top horizontal support24, middle horizontal support 26, and vertical end supports 30, thenconnecting stops 44, located on either side of lattice network 42, tothe supports, preferably using screws. Posts 20 are preferably set inapproximately two-foot deep holes in ground 70, and cement foundation 22is poured into the holes. The casement is connected to posts 20,preferably by screws or nails. Post caps 60 are mounted on top of posts20, and are held in place preferably by screws or friction fit.

[0018] The above disclosure related to a section of fence 10. In total,a fence may include many sections similarly constructed, together withpassage gates or other deviations, as desired. Such fence sections wouldpreferably be connected to each other through connection means such asscrews or nails.

[0019] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, while cedar has been identified as the preferable wood for usein the fence, other durable, weather-treated materials may be used.Likewise, while vinyl has been identified as the preferable material forthe lattice section and vertical siding, other similarly durable,low-maintenance materials may be used. In addition, construction of thefence may be accomplished in a different order than set forthspecifically above. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is notlimited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, theinvention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims thatfollow.

[0020] The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive propertyor privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A low-maintenance fence, comprising at least two posts, a casementstructure maintained between the two posts, a lattice structuresupported within the casement structure, and a shield structure,supported within the casement structure.